HWPL Inspires Official Request for a New National Holiday Centered Around Peace in the Philippines

Chicago, Illinois Jan 27, 2023 (Issuewire.com) - Through partnering together, Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) and Volunteer Individuals for Peace (VIP) are paving the way for everlasting peace to be realized in the Philippines through hosting the first ever Philippine National Peace Conference in Manila. This was following the official launch of the 32nd HWPL Peace Tour by Chairman Lee Man-Hee and the delegation of HWPL. The Philippine National Conference was hosted over two plenary sessions and focused on the topic, "Peace Builds One Nation, One Future: Peace is Here!" A new national holiday, "National Peace (or Truce) Day," was unanimously endorsed by various sectors of the Philippine community and will be presented to the Philippines' President.

The event launched with a Press Conference attended by 100 journalists from 89 media organizations. Represented amongst over 1,500 attendees at the plenary sessions were organizations consisting of NGOs, lawmakers, law experts, academia, youth sectors, women's sectors and religious and cultural leaders. 

The plenary sessions were divided into two parts, with the first session consisting of the opening program, endorsement speeches and breakout session to discuss five topics with the goal of establishing a resolution to endorse and present to the President of the Philippines. 

The five topics discussed were;

• Policy making for the realization of peace in the Philippines.
• Institutionalizing Peace Education, empowering the youth and raising peacemakers.
• Significant role of media in the promotion of peace.
• Significant role of inter-religious, interfaith and intercultural values to achieve peace and national unity.
• Significant role of women as sustainable peace partners.

The second session consisted of the results of the discussion and the verdict being shared on whether the sectors agreed to adopt and endorse the resolutions made for establishing peace in the Philippines. All five proposed policies for the framework of peace in the Philippines were endorsed by all concerned sectors, and the resolution to establish January 24th as the National Peace Day in the Philippines was also endorsed and will be presented to the President of the Philippines.

Commissioner Ronald Adamat encouraged the members of the convention to unite for the further development of peace initiatives in the Philippines stating that, "Whilst it is imperative that we cannot totally stop the proliferation of violence and lawlessness and war, we can surely significantly and effectively make a difference and we will start today." In addition, the Commissioner encouraged support for an official endorsement for January 24th as a new national holiday announcing, "It shall be a truce day when the whole country shall reflect on the importance of peace, harmony, love and unity," and "It shall contribute to the promotion of HWPL's Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW)."

Concluding the event, Chairman Lee Man-Hee spoke on the importance of the DPCW and collective effort for peace and promoted this idea. "As we are working for peace and the cessation of wars and as a legacy for future generations, we have to gather our hearts and work as one," Chairman Lee stated. "The story of Mindanao is such a success story for peace that the global community was amazed and the Philippines has become a leading example for peace. It is an example set for the global community and light shed for the whole world," he added. Chairman Lee encouraged cooperation between the government and its people for peace stating, "The government should have love for its people and the people should have love for its government and that will in turn come back to the people and in this way we can truly become one."

HWPL is currently broadcasting the First Philippine Convention through its YouTube Channels. One can view the "First National Peace Convention"  on https://bit.ly/3HrCqbg